06 liberty hard shift from 2/3 gear

Hey guys, im new here so bear with me , and sorry for the long story lol

A week ago we bought an 06 liberty 3.7l 4x4 with 108xxx on it, it seemed to run and drive great. After a couple days we noticed it had felt weird a couple of times shifting from 2/3 gear, we thought we were just imagining things, but it seems be more constant now. It seems like after its parked for a few minutes and then drove it does fine the first 2/3 gear shift, but after you slow down and accelerate again any time after that it seems to shift hard. When it does you can feel the vehicle jerk, almost like a loss of power for a split second and slight clunking noise. Im not to savvy when it comes to transmissions, so im not really sure what to do, think it will need a rebuild? or maybe just a fluid change? Im not sure when the last time the ****** fluid was changed... oh and i noticed the fluid was on the lower end of the of were it should be on the dipstick so i added some lucas oil transmission repair fluid to it, didnt really seem to make much diffrerence.

and if anyone knows, whats a ball part estimate of a transmission rebuild?

Thanks in advance guys...

Go with a complete flush of the ****** then add all new fluid to see if she acts any differently. Any codes at all?

wheeee32 said:

Go with a complete flush of the ****** then add all new fluid to see if she acts any differently. Any codes at all?

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Welcome to the board - hopefully this is an easy fix and you'll be enjoying your Liberty for a long time to come.

Do a complete flush and fill and be SURE, as in absolutely, positively 100% certain the shop uses ATF+4 trans fluid and nothing else. Otherwise you might as well get a rebuilt ******.

If it does need a rebuild don't bother having the shop rebuild yours - just have them install a rebuild. The majority of the cost of a trans is in labor so rather than having them tear yours apart just swap a rebuild in.

Let us know what you end up doing.

Bob

Theres no dash lights on, so im assuming no codes. You guys think it will be easier to do a flush myself or is it worth the money to have a good shop do it? I know i could do a fluid change myself, but a flush is seeming kinda confusing, like i said im not too savvy when it comes to ****** stuff lol. Also, what do you guys think about using the lucas oil transmission repair?

I figure i might as well change the AT oil filter while im at it too...

Transmission issues don't always turn MIL on, IIRC.

A decent scanner is needed to recover the hidden code (I suspect it's a P731/733 plus may be an P8xx..),
seen a lot around here.
Also, I fear that a flush won't be of much help, sorry to contradict fellow KJers..
Moreover, given the not so negligible mileage, completely flushing the fluid, would probably require a TCM
relearn, not something every shop can do.

Hope OP will keep us posted!

I only suggested the flush and change of fluid so that for sure isn't the cause. A good scanner would definitely help narrow down the problem. If it's as bad as the OP is describing then the end result may in fact be a rebuild.

Just to throw a monkey wrench into things...

My KJ has shifted hard since day 1. Usually on the 1-2 shift though. The trans/rear end also can really clunk pretty badly at times. Sometimes it's smooth as glass, other times it really bangs second. I usually get the clunk when I get into 3rd or 4th.

almost 92k and it's going strong. It may be totally normal. I read previously that these things can be damn clunky and rough.

Atrus said:

Just to throw a monkey wrench into things...

My KJ has shifted hard since day 1. Usually on the 1-2 shift though. The trans/rear end also can really clunk pretty badly at times. Sometimes it's smooth as glass, other times it really bangs second. I usually get the clunk when I get into 3rd or 4th.

almost 92k and it's going strong. It may be totally normal. I read previously that these things can be damn clunky and rough.

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It all depends on how much throttle is applied.

Mine shifts almost as rough as a bad stick driver.

... I like it?

Best suggestion would be to have a DEALER do a flush, fill and TRANSMISSION RELEARN. That last part may or may not be the most important. Depending on driving style, the transmission "learns" how to best shift to cope for driving style and gas mileage.

I was having a similar problem with my 02 KJ with a 100k on it. No check engine light either. Took it to the dealership and they found two codes P0700 and P0870. Ended up being a bad hydraulic pressure sensor and luckily covered by my warranty. So I would stop guessing what it might be and take it in to have it looked at. Even if you dont have a warranty still worth the cost to have it done right the first time.

so i just got back from our local transmission shop, he hooked up what looked like a huge kids leap frog pad and drove it for a bit. he said there was no codes showing up, but it felt like third gear was completly skipping... and he also mentioned maybe bad clutches? he said they would have to tear it apart to really see what it is. He qouted about $1400 for a rebuild, and about half that to put a new one in(if ibought a used one). after the paying 300-400 for another used ****** and the 700 to put it in, i might as well have it rebuilt and not deal with possibly having another bad ******, which is just my luck

anybody have any more insight?
and do you guys think it would be okay for me to drive it to work? about 8 miles round trip.

oh and how is the easiaest way for me to get back to this post? i have to keep going to my profile, my statistic, then view all threads posted by this member... seems like theres gotta be an easier way...

jeepinjim93 said:

so i just got back from our local transmission shop, he hooked up what looked like a huge kids leap frog pad and drove it for a bit. he said there was no codes showing up, but it felt like third gear was completly skipping... and he also mentioned maybe bad clutches? he said they would have to tear it apart to really see what it is. He qouted about $1400 for a rebuild, and about half that to put a new one in(if ibought a used one). after the paying 300-400 for another used ****** and the 700 to put it in, i might as well have it rebuilt and not deal with possibly having another bad ******, which is just my luck

anybody have any more insight?
and do you guys think it would be okay for me to drive it to work? about 8 miles round trip.

oh and how is the easiaest way for me to get back to this post? i have to keep going to my profile, my statistic, then view all threads posted by this member... seems like theres gotta be an easier way...

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You're throwing no codes...so I wouldn't suggest it yet. You can do some investigation yourself: how does the fluid look? Black/brown or pink? Is the fluid level good? My buddy had a WK that was skipping pretty badly and it just happened to be because fluid was low (they haven't figured out why the fluid was low yet...but when he put some in, he was good to go).

Just my two cents...but I would NEVER throw $1400 bucks at it just for a hard shift (which is RIDICULOUSLY cheap for a rebuild by the way...I got my used ******, 32k miles on it, installed, no tax, by a family friend for that much...). Are you sure you trust this guy? Did he tell you the CVI (Clutch Volume Index) numbers? Did he tell you if they were out of spec (~100 or greater)? If the 2-3 clutch is out of spec...yes you might need a rebuild.

I'm still gonna go with a DEALERSHIP ****** flush and fill as well as a relearn. Start cheap(ish), then go up from there.

Go into UserCP, click Edit Options, scroll down Default Thread Subscription Mode and click on the drop-down menu to select Instant Email Notification.

You'll get an email as soon as someone responds with a link to the new posts.

And I second not spending the $$ yet. First, make sure it's fully warmed up then check the level (with the truck running). If low, fill it. ATF+4 only. And I mean only. If it is indeed full, take it to the nearest stealership and have them drop the pan and do a fluid and filter change (not a flush) if you can't do it yourself. They'll tell you if there's excessive clutch material or any metal in the pan.

I replaced my transmission (got the Jeep with no forward movement except if floored and no reverse at all) with a lower-mileage, known-good ****** from an auto recycler for about a third of that price. I did the replacement myself in my yard. It's not hard, just time-consuming and can be awkward.

I guess i probably should have added that for the last couple days it hasn't really shifted hard at all, it has just begun shifting what seems like way too soon and then it will goo back and forth between gears until you get above a certain speed. Ive checked the fluid a few times, theirs plenty in it, doesn't really smell burnt, and has a a dark reddish brown tint to it.

He didnt tell me any numbers, i never asked. But i would definitely trust the shop, they've got a good reputation around here and are known for good prices. do you know were i could find a walk through of how to swap the transmission?

I have a freshly rebuilt 42RLE that I'll sell for $200 plus shipping

The service manual is located here
Index of /manuals/Jeep/KJ

And I have lots of photos in my member journal on here.

mine deffs is not as smooth as my 95 bmw in the past. i have learned to love it anyways. im just wondering if these KJ's every had that nice gliding shifting action or is that just for the 100,*** k's or less club?

thankyou !

Leeann said:

The service manual is located here
Index of /manuals/Jeep/KJ

And I have lots of photos in my member journal on here.

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thanks for this, my jeep came bookless :/

decibelchild said:

thanks for this, my jeep came bookless :/

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Have you checked in the little compartment behind the glove box door, but ABOVE the glove box? Totally hidden. Might be in there! often times people find it in there after thinking they don't have one.

decibelchild said:

mine deffs is not as smooth as my 95 bmw in the past. i have learned to love it anyways. im just wondering if these KJ's every had that nice gliding shifting action or is that just for the 100,*** k's or less club?

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Thank goodness it doesn't shift like one of those slip and slide BMWs etc, hate when you can't feel a shift. Its a Jeep I want to feel what happens, I like good hard firm shifts